Apparatus and methods for washing truck boxes and shipping containers

Abstract

An apparatus for washing truck boxes and containers, the apparatus comprising a base unit 2 and a roving unit 3 having a high-pressure spray system (fig. 10, 42 and 43), the base unit comprising a rai

Description

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for washing truck boxes, shipping containers and the like. Trucks come in all sorts of different forms, such as fixed chassis and articulated, both of which may have completely or mainly enclosed volumes suitable for carrying goods. These enclosed volumes are generally referred to herein as truck boxes. Some trucks have a flat bed with some adapted for carrying shipping containers, such as 1 TEU and 2 TEU ISO containers, which generally provide an enclosed volume, which may be sealed, ventilated, air conditioned, refrigerated and some adapted for maintaining the interior of the containers at below freezing temperatures . Traditionally, truck boxes and shipping containers, such as ISO containers (typically 1 and 2 TEU (2O'x8'x8.5' and 40'x8'x8.5')) are cleaned manually using brooms and mops with plenty of water and detergents. The water is generally supplied through a hose and buckets of water. In recent years, high pressure water jet sprayers are used, such as those sold under the trade names Karcher, which may be powered electrically or having an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and more recently, battery powered spray guns such as those sold by Jet Hawk. The inventors have noted that current methods of cleaning and washing truck boxes and shipping containers are inefficient in terms of manual labour time and effort, consistency, quality and inefficient use of water and detergents . In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for washing truck boxes and containers located on a chassis or trailer of a truck, the apparatus comprising a base unit and a roving unit having at least one high-pressure spray apparatus, the base unit comprising a structure supporting a raised platform with a deployable bridge, the raised platform for supporting the roving unit. In use, the bridge is deployed so that the roving unit can traverse the bridge on to a floor of a truck box or shipping container. Optionally, the deployable bridge is a drawbridge which may be hinged from the base unit, optionally from a point close to the raised platform and may be part of a frame structure supporting the raised platform. Optionally, the deployable bridge is an extendable bridge which slides out of a pocket located underneath the platform and may be hinged to allow for height differences between the height of the raised platform and the floor of a truck box to be cleaned. Optionally, the extendable bridge may hide completely within the pocket when retracted or mainly be received under the platform with a lip extending from the base unit. Optionally, the platform and deployable bridge are integral, the bridge deployable with the roving unit sitting on the deployable bridge and movable therewith. Optionally, the raised platform may be arranged on a jack-up rig, such as a rack and pinion system or hydraulic or pneumatic lift system for raising and lowering the raised platform to match the height of the floor of a truck box to be cleaned, such that the bridge is substantially horizontal when deployed. However, this is optional, as most trucks have pneumatic suspension which enable adjustment of the height of the floor of the truck box. The raised platform may be regarded as providing a dock for the roving unit. Optionally, the platform is arranged between 500mm and 2000mm and optionally 1500mm high which may be measured from a floor on which the base unit sits when in use. The drawbridge caters for various heights of floors of truck boxes to be cleaned, by lying at a slight incline or decline or on the same level as the height of the raised platform. Optionally, a hinge is arranged between the drawbridge and the structure or raised platform. Optionally, the drawbridge comprises a pair of runners suitable for the roving unit to traverse. Optionally, the runners have a linear portion and a flared portion. Optionally, the runners are provided with guide bars. Optionally, the drawbridge further comprises a spray bar. Optionally, the spray bar has a flow channel therein with a plurality of openings or nozzles through which water may flow to produce a jet spray. Optionally, the base unit houses and optionally supports a water tank. Optionally, the base unit houses a pump for pumping water from the water tank to the high-pressure spray system. Optionally, the base unit houses a dosing pump for dosing an additive into the water supplying the high-pressure spray system. Such additives may be a surfactant, detergent, disinfectant or any other suitable fluid or particle laden fluid to facilitate cleaning. Optionally, the base unit houses and optionally supports a hydraulic supply system and optionally a hydraulic control system. Optionally, the hydraulic supply system comprises a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic supply line, a return hydraulic line and a shuttle valve for selectively directing hydraulic fluid to one of a first and second hydraulic line and selectively directing return from the other of the first and second hydraulic lines, optionally to the return line or directly to a hydraulic fluid sump. Optionally, the base unit comprises a human machine interface for controlling the remote unit, optionally controlling motion of the remote unit and optionally controlling the high-pressure spray apparatus and optionally controlling the hydraulic systems and optionally controlling the high-pressure water delivery system. Optionally, the base unit comprises an umbilical rack. Optionally, the umbilical rack comprises a water hose connection, electric connection and at least one hydraulic connection at points above the raised platform, optionally, between 200 and 2,000mm above the raised platform and optionally 1000mm. Optionally, the umbilical rack comprises a frame structure, optionally made from a plastics material or metal tube. Optionally, the metal tube is of square section, but may be of circular, triangular or any other suitable shape. Optionally, the at least one high-pressure spray system comprises a box washing system, optionally comprising a set of at least two and optionally three, four, five or more Catherine wheel sprays, optionally driven in synchronisation with a belt drive, optionally using a timing belt and optionally driven by a hydraulic motor. Optionally, the at least one high-pressure spray apparatus comprises a flushing spray bar optionally arranged at a front end of the roving unit and optionally with nozzles or spray jet openings directed at the floor or directed at an angle to the rear of the roving unit to the floor. Optionally, the at least one high-pressure spray system further comprises an external clean down spray system, which is optionally comprises a spray bar and is optionally arranged on the base unit and optionally on the drawbridge of the base unit. Optionally, the remote unit comprises a truck having a chassis and at least one wheel, optionally two, three, four or more wheels. Alternatively, the remote unit may comprise robotic legs for traversing the drawbridge and entering a truck box or container to be cleaned. Optionally, the truck also comprises at least one bumper wheel. Optionally, the at least one bumper wheel is arranged to rotate in a substantially horizontal plane about a substantially vertical axis. Optionally, the remote unit further comprises a drive motor for propelling the remote unit. Optionally, the drive motor is a hydraulic motor, internal combustion engine or electric motor. Optionally, the remote unit comprises a hydraulic distribution system for distributing hydraulic fluid between a hydraulic drive motor for propelling the truck of the remote unit and a hydraulic spinning motor for spinning said Catherine wheel sprays. Optionally, the hydraulic circuit further comprises a first priority control flow valve in the first hydraulic line and a second priority control flow valve in the second hydraulic line, with the first priority line to one side of the hydraulic drive motor and the second priority line to the other side of the hydraulic motor, such that the drive motor will propel the truck forward when the first hydraulic line is provided from the supply of hydraulic fluid and the drive motor will propel the truck backwards when the second hydraulic line is provided from the supply of hydraulic fluid. Optionally, the hydraulic circuit further comprises a spinner supply and spinner return line, wherein the first priority control flow valve has an inferior branch supplying a common line feeding a first side of said spinner motor and the second priority control flow valve has an inferior branch feeding the common line feeding the first side of the spinner motor, such that the spinner motor will spin the Catherine wheels in the same direction irrespective of whether the supply of hydraulic fluid is to the first or second hydraulic line. Optionally, components of the hydraulic distribution system are housed in a single distribution block. Optionally, the roving unit also comprises a distance sensing system for accessing the relative location of the roving unit with respect to the base unit. Optionally, the distance sensing system comprises an axle rotation counter, which optionally comprises at least one flag which moves with rotation of the axle and a sensor. Optionally the sensor is a counter switch and / or an optical sensor. The present invention also provides a method of cleaning a truck box or container, the method comprising the steps of deploying a bridge from a raised platform of a base unit on to a floor of a truck box or container located on a chassis or trailer of a truck, a roving unit traversing the drawbridge from the raised platform on to the floor of the truck box or container, and activating at least one high-pressure spray apparatus to spray at least one jet of water within the truck box or container. Optionally, the bridge is a drawbridge and the step of deploying the bridge comprises lowering the drawbridge on to the floor of the truck box or container. Optionally, the at least one high-pressure spray apparatus wherein the step of activating comprises activating the at least one Catherine wheel spray to spin whilst spraying. Optionally, the step of spinning is carried out using a separate motor, optionally driven hydraulically and optionally using a belt, optionally in synchronisation with at least one further Catherine wheel spray. Optionally, the method further comprises the step of deactivating the at least one spray apparatus and activating a flushing apparatus to flush dirty water from the floor of the truck box or container. Optionally, the roving unit moves back along the floor towards the bridge whilst the flushing apparatus is operational. Optionally, the flushing apparatus is deactivated and the roving unit returns across the bridge to the raised platform of the base unit. Optionally, the base unit comprises an external washdown apparatus which is activated optionally, when the roving unit has returned to the raised platform to clean the rear of the truck. In another aspect, the present invention also provides a hydraulic system for operating an apparatus for washing truck boxes and containers, the hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic supply system and a separate hydraulic distribution system linked with a first and second hydraulic hoses . In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for washing truck boxes and containers, the apparatus comprising a base unit and a roving unit, the roving unit comprising a water hose reel deploying a water hose. Optionally, the roving unit further comprises an umbilical hose reel deploying an umbilical, which may comprise a first and second hydraulic lines and optionally a multi-core low voltage electric cable, which may be bound together, twisted together or free and parallel to each other. Optionally, the roving unit further comprises a separate reel for each of the hydraulic hoses and an electric cable. Optionally, the reels comprise a self-winding mechanism to maintain tension in the umbilical and hose so that they do not drag or interfere with the operation of the roving unit. In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for washing truck boxes and containers, the apparatus comprising a base unit and a roving unit, the roving unit comprising a high-pressure spray system comprising at least one Catherine wheel spray and a spray bar. In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for washing truck boxes and containers, the apparatus comprising a base unit and a roving unit having at least one high-pressure spray apparatus, the base unit comprising a platform with a drawbridge, the platform for supporting the roving unit, the base unit comprising a hydraulic supply system and the roving unit comprising a hydraulic distribution system for propelling the roving unit and for inducing motion in said high pressure spray apparatus and the base unit comprising a water pump and said roving unit comprising a water distribution system for distributing water to said at least two high-pressure spray apparatus. Optionally, one of the high-pressure spray apparatus is a box washing spray system and the other is a flushing spray system. Any of the above stated optional features may be in combination with any of the aspects of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention, taken from a front and side angle, the apparatus generally comprising a base unit and a roving unit, with a drawbridge of the base unit raised; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, taken from a rear and side angle; Figure 2A is a front view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 in use with the drawbridge down and the roving unit entering a truck box of a truck; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rear end of the roving unit of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, in use in a step of cleaning a truck box; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a part of the roving unit of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, taken from a front top and side angle; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the part of the roving unit shown in Figure 5, taken from a rear top and side angle; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the part of the roving unit shown in Figure 5, taken from a rear underneath and side angle; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the part of the roving unit shown in Figure 5, taken from a front underneath and side angle; Figures 9, 10 and 11 are respectively a side, front and rear end view of the part of the roving unit of the apparatus shown in Figure 5; Figures 12 and 13 are respectively a side and rear end view of the part of the apparatus of Figure 5 with further parts of the apparatus shown; Figure 14 is a front-end schematic of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, with parts removed to show hidden parts; Figure 15 is a hydraulic circuit used in the apparatus shown in Figure 1, comprising a hydraulic supply circuit and a hydraulic distribution circuit; Figure 16 shows schematically a box washing spray system of the roving unit of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 17 is a schematic diagram showing parts of a water supply system and a water distribution system located in the base unit of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 18 is a perspective diagrammatical representation of part of a drive system of the roving unit of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; and Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of two distance sensing system suitable for use in the roving unit shown in Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to Figure 1 to 2A there is shown an apparatus for washing truck boxes and shipping containers, the apparatus generally referred to using the reference numeral 1. The apparatus 1 generally comprises a base unit 2 and a roving unit 3 linked by a high-pressure water hose 4 and an umbilical 5 comprising a first hydraulic hose 6 and a second hydraulic hose 7 and a low voltage multi-core electric cable 8. The base unit 2 comprises a frame structure 11 supporting a checker plate platform 10, the frame structure 11 clad to form a housing 9. The cladding comprises planar painted metal sheets. The frame structure 11 is generally cuboid, although may be of any suitable three-dimensional shape, such as cylindrical, polygonal prism or triangular prism. The frame structure 11 comprises four corner legs 12 each having a foot 13 to inter alia spread loading on to a workshop floor 14, see Figures 1 and 14. A top end of the legs 12 are linked by horizontal members 15 and a lower end of the legs are linked by horizontal members 16. Intermediate posts 17 each have a foot 18 and are linked into the horizontal members 15 provide additional support. The frame structure 11 also supports a water storage tank 20, a water delivery system 20' , a drawbridge 21, a hydraulic supply system 23, an umbilical rack 22 and a control system having a human machine interface (HMI) 24. The roving unit 3 comprises a truck 25, see Figures 5 to 11, a spray system 26, a hose and umbilical coiling apparatus 27, see Figures 12 to 14, a hydraulic distribution system 28, a drive system 29 and a distance sensing system 30. The truck 25 comprises a left side panel 31, a right side panel 32, a front panel 33, a rear panel 34 and a floor panel 35. A front axle 36 passes through bearings 39 and 39' in a lower front ends of the side panels 32 and 33 respectively. The front axle 36 has a wheel 37, 37' rotationally fixed to each end of the axle 36. A rear axle 38 passes through bearings 39" to 39"' in a lower rear ends of the side panels 32 and 33 respectively. The rear axle 38 has a wheel 37",37'" rotationally fixed to each end of the axle 38. The wheels 37 to 37'" each have a hub and a pneumatic tyre, although the wheels may have solid rubber tyres and the hub may be made from any suitable material, such as steel or aluminium alloy. The wheels 37 to 37'" are arranged generally vertically being generally perpendicular to the generally horizontal axles 36, 38. The tyres of the wheels 37 to 37"' support the truck 25 and facilitate a rolling motion along platform 10 over the drawbridge 21 and along a floor 100 of a truck box 101, see Fig. 4. Referring to Figure 18, the drive system 29 drives the rear axle 38. The drive system 29 has a drive wheel 120 rotationally fixed to the rear axle 38 and arranged between the bearings 39" and 39"' in the sides of the truck 25. The drive wheel 120 is driven by a belt 121 and a driven wheel 122 driven by an output shaft 123 of a gearbox 124 which is in turn driven by hydraulic motor 92. The floor panel 35 is arranged above the axles 36 and 38. Each bumper wheel 39 to 39'" is freely rotatable in a horizontal orientation about a vertical spigot axle 40 to 40'" on a respective arm 41 to 41'" above each respective wheel 37 to 37"' . Each arm 41 to 41'" is approximately 45cm long and is made from 25mm box section steel tube, such that each bumper wheel is arranged beyond respective wheel 37 to 37'" so as not to interfere with each other's rotation. The coiling system 27 comprises a hose reel 27a for coiling water 4 and an umbilical reel 27b for coiling umbilical 5. Both reels 27a and 27b are self-winding passive reels which hold respective water hose 4 and umbilical 5 under tension so that the water hose and umbilical do not drag on the floor, but are spaced from the floor whilst the roving unit manoeuvres. The spray system 26 comprises a box washing spray system 42 and a flushing spray bar 43 both arranged on the roving unit 3 and an external clean down spray bar 44 arranged on the drawbridge 21 of the base unit 2. The box washing system 42 comprises a set of three Catherine wheel sprays 45, 46 and 47 are arranged in an inverted triangular pattern on the front panel 33. The three Catherine wheel sprays 45, 46 and 47 are each rotatable in a generally vertical plane about a horizontal axis arranged in a respective wheel housing 48, 49, 50. Each Catherine wheel spray 45, 46 and 47 has three nozzle heads 51, 52, 53 at 120 degree intervals about the axis. Each nozzle head 51, 52, 53 is arranged at a distal end of a curved arm extending in a curl from the central axis outwards and extending longitudinally from the axis away from the front panel 33. Referring to Figure 16, each wheel housing 48, 49, 50 comprises a stator 48' , 49' , 50' connected to a distal end of respective high pressure water hose 54, 55, 56 and the proximal ends connected to a manifold 57 which is connected to a supply of water under high pressure provided from the base unit 2 through manifold connector 58. The rotating wheel sprays 45, 46, 47 each comprise a rotor 59, 60, 61 rotatable about respective stator 48', 49' 50'. Each rotor 59, 60, 61 has a grooved outer profile to receive a timing belt 62 which passes about each of the rotors 59, 60, 61 in a general inverted W-shape and passing over a drive wheel 63 arranged between a pair of idler wheels 64 and 65 to inhibit the belt from lifting from the drive wheel 63 to ensure a transfer of movement from the drive wheel 63 to the timing belt 62. The drive wheel 63 is rotated by a hydraulic spinner motor 66 connected to a hydraulic supply hose 67 and a hydraulic return hose 68 which leads back to hydraulic connectors 72 and 73 in distribution block 69. The distribution block 69 is supplied with high hydraulic fluid under high pressure from first and second hydraulic linking hoses 70 and 71 which receive hydraulic fluid under pressure from the hydraulic supply system 23 located in the base unit 2 via hydraulic hoses 6 and 7 running between the base unit 2 and the roving unit 3. The flushing spray bar 43 is arranged horizontally on a front end of the truck 25. The flushing spray bar 43 depends from hollow high pressure water conveying tubes 80 projecting from a front lower end of the front panel 33. The flushing spray bar 43 is generally straight and parallel with the axles 36 and 38 with ends which wrap around the front wheels 37 and 37'. The flushing spray bar 43 has an interior water flow channel running therethrough with a series of nozzles or perforations along a substantial part of the bar to allow water under high pressure to flow out of the interior water flow channel in the form of jets. These nozzles or perforations are directed in rearwardly of the truck 97 and downwardly towards the floor at an angle of approximately, 45 to 90?? degrees to the horizontal. The interior water flow channel is in fluidical communication with the hollow high pressure water conveying tubes 80 which are connected via a hose 81 to a motorised three-way valve 82 with 3 / 8" BSP connections located within the truck 25. The three-way valve 82 is supplied by water hose 4 with the three-way valve 82 able to divert flow of water from the hose 4 between the box washing spray system 42 and a flushing spray bar 43. The external clean down bar 44 is arranged on an underside 83 of the drawbridge 21 of the base unit 2. As shown in Figure 2A, the drawbridge 21 comprises a pair of checker plate flared runways 84 with vertical strengthening guide bars 85 for guiding each wheeled side of the roving unit 3. A square section tubular steel frame support 86 supports and links the pair of runways 84 and comprises a hinge strut at a proximal end of the drawbridge 21. The hinge strut has hinge pins 87 at either end which are each located in bearings of an L-bracket 88 fixed to the frame structure 11 of the base unit 2 to provide a hinge about which the drawbridge can be raised or lowered. A perpendicular arm 89 is welded or otherwise attached to an underside of the frame support 86 with a brace arranged therebetween. A linear actuator 93 is located inside the housing 9 having a static part fixed to the frame structure 11 and an actuatable linear rod directed to act against the perpendicular arm 89 to selectively raise and lower the drawbridge. As shown schematically in Figure 17, the external clean down bar 44 has an interior water flow channel running therethrough with a series of nozzles or perforations 104 along a substantial part of the bar to allow water under high pressure to flow out of the interior water flow channel in the form of jets 105. The nozzles or perforations 104 are angled at ?? degrees from the plane of the drawbridge 21, to produce a fan of jets suitable for cleaning the number plate, rear light cluster and rear structure underneath the floor of the truck box 101 of a truck 97 to be cleaned. The interior water flow channel is in fluidic communication with connection hose 94 which is connected to a motorised three-way valve 103 with 3 / 8" BSP connections located within the base unit 2 . Water 108 flows from the water tank 20 through hose 109 and is drawn through water pump 106 to a pressure of approximately ? to ? bar to the three-way valve 103 which selectively diverts flow of water from the water tank 20 between the external clean down bar 44 and the hose 107 supplying the box washing spray system 42 and a flushing spray bar 43. The base unit 2 also comprises a dosing system 20" for dosing an additive 110, such as a surfactant, detergent, disinfectant or combination thereof into the water pumped from the water tank 20 supplied to three-way vale 103 delivery system and thus on to the spray system 26. The dosing system 20" comprises a tube 113 which is inserted into the additive 110 stored in bottle 111. A dosing pump 114 is controlled from the HMI 24 through a computer processor to selectively pump the additive at a rate determined by the computer processor through the HMI into dosing valve 115, which mixes the additive 110 with the water flowing through hose 109 to the three-way valve 103. The bottle 111 is typically a 51, 101 or 201 plastic bottle. The distance sensing system 30 comprises a series of four flags 98 arranged at 90 degrees about axle 36 with a photoelectric counter 99 and / or a physical gate counter 99' directed at a point through which the flags 98 pass. The counter 99, 99' report the readings back to a central processor of the control unit in the base unit 2. The diameter of the wheels 37' to 37"' is fixed, so a position of the roving unit can be determined relative to its docking spot on the platform 10 on top of the base unit 2. A safety bar bumper 130 is provided at the front of the truck 25 in front of and spaced from the flushing spray bar 43. The safety bar bumper 130 comprises compression sensors (not shown), such that if the roving unit 2 drives into a static object whereupon the bumper 130 meets the static object and compresses, the drive system is shut down to prevent further driven forward motion. A safety light (not shown) is also arranged on the roving unit 2. The apparatus 1 would usually, but not necessarily, be sited in a commercial shed 96 provided with a concrete floor 95 having a slight fall to provide a sump to collect dirty water. In operation, the apparatus 1 would be in the state shown in Figures 1 to 2A, with the roving unit 3 docked on the platform 10 of the base unit 2 with the drawbridge 21 raised. A truck 97 is reversed over the sump 95 to within approximately lm of the base unit 2 directly in front of the underside 83 of the drawbridge 21. An operator uses the HMI 24 to activate the linear actuator 93 to slowly retract the actuatable linear rod. The drawbridge 21 is slightly over-centre when the actuatable linear rod is in its fully extended position, so the drawbridge 21 lowers under gravity as the actuatable linear rod retracts until the distal end of the drawbridge is supported by the floor 100 of the truck box 101. The linear rod may continue to retract until its fully retracted position. The operator then selects a preprogrammed routine from a menu displayed on the HMI 24 for the type and size of truck box to be cleaned. An example routine is set out below. The central computer processor instructs a signal to be sent to allow electricity to pass through one of the cores of the low voltage multi-core electric cable 8 to the roving unit 3 activating the safety light (not shown). The central processor instructs a signal to be sent to allow electricity to flow from a mains supply (not shown) to a variable frequency drive (VFD) 2.2kW motor 140 to spin its rotor 141 at up to 1400 rpm to drive an electric pump 142 to raise the pressure and flow rate up to 7 litres per minute of hydraulic fluid in hydraulic supply line 143. However, only drive is required at this point to propel the roving unit 2, so the central processor instructs the VFD to run the electric pump 142 to flow between 3 to 5 litres per minute of hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid flows through shuttle valve 144 and into hydraulic hose 145 which leads to the top of the umbilical rack 22 where it is connected to first hydraulic hose 6 passing around umbilical reel 27b and into distribution block 69. The high-pressure hydraulic fluid passes through channel 146 not being allowed to flow through check valve 147 and flows through a priority control flow valve 148 sending up to 5 litres per minute into hydraulic drive motor 92, rotating a rotor thereof to drive the wheels of the truck 25 to propel the roving unit 2. High pressure hydraulic fluid does not pass into line 150 as the flow rate in the line 146 is not above the 5 litres per minute threshold. Hydraulic fluid is returned through hose 75 from the drive motor 92 back through the second hydraulic hose 7, through shuttle valve 144 and returned through hydraulic return line 143' to hydraulic fluid sump 152. The central processor knows the relative position of the roving unit 2 from operation of the distance sensing system 30. Once the roving unit has traversed the drawbridge 21 the central processor activates the water pump 106 and ensures orientation of the motorised valves 103 and 82 are set to flow water under high pressure to the box washing spray system 42. The central processor instructs the VFD to run the electric pump 142 to 7 litres per minute, whereupon the priority control flow valve 148 sends a up to 2 litres per minute of high-pressure hydraulic fluid to pass through check valve 149 into channel 150 and into hose 67 to rotate the hydraulic spinner motor 66 to spin the three Catherine wheel sprays 45, 46, 47 in a clockwise rotation. The high-pressure hydraulic fluid is not allowed to flow through the check valve 151. Hydraulic fluid is returned through hose 68 from the spinner motor 66 back through the second hydraulic hose 7, through shuttle valve 144 and returned to hydraulic fluid sump 152. The roving unit 2 continues to be propelled and through the truck box 101 and the central processor continues to record its relative position using the distance sensing system 30. At a predetermined distance the roving unit 2 is halted and reversed by the central processer instructing the shuttle valve to alter the direction of flow of hydraulic fluid in the first and second hydraulic hoses 6 and 7. The VFD is also instructed to run the electric pump 142 to 3 to 5 litres per minute, whereupon high-pressure hydraulic fluid now flows through hydraulic hose 7 through priority control flow valve 153 and into driving motor 92 so that the roving unit now reverses. The priority control flow valve 153 does not allow high pressure hydraulic fluid to flow to the spinner motor 66. The central processor instructs the motorised control vale 82 to divert flow of high-pressure water from the box washing spray system 42 to the flushing spray bar 43 for flushing dirty water on the floor 100 of the truck box 101 back and out of the truck box door opening 160 and on to the concrete floor into the sump as the roving unit reverses, completing a first pass. The program may be set to add additives on a first pass and then no additives for a second pass. When the passes are complete, the central processor instructs the roving unit 2 to cease spraying by activating motorised three-way valve 103 to direct high pressure water away from the roving unit 2 and through hose 94 to the external clean down spray bar 44. The roving unit 2 continues to reverse back over the drawbridge 21 and back on to its dock on the platform 10. The drawbridge is lifted whereupon the jets from the external clean down spray bar 44 wash over the rear of the truck, cleaning inter alia any number plates, light clusters and rear structure of the truck. The central processor then instructs the water pump 106 to be switched off as well as the electric motor 140 of the hydraulic fluid supply system 23. In another preprogrammed routine, the box washing spray system 42 is used whilst the roving unit reverses back towards the rear end of the truck box 101. It should be noted that the hydraulic circuit is designed such that the Catherine wheels spin in the same clockwise direction whether the roving unit is prolled forwards or in reverse. The motor 140 may be a single phase or three phase motor and runs on AC, although a variable speed DC motor is optional. In a further embodiment, the drawbridge 21 is replaced with an extendable bridge which comprises a rigid platform approximately 1500mm long which slides out of a pocket located underneath the raised platform of the base unit on to the floor of a truck box to be cleaned. The rigid platform may be extended from the base unit towards the truck box and retracted away from said truck box and towards the base unit using a motor driving a pinion wheel along a horizontal toothed track, or a using a linear actuator. The extendable bridge may hide completely within the pocket when retracted or mainly be received in the pocket with a lip extending from the footprint of the base unit. Optionally, the raised platform may be arranged on a jack-up rig, such as a rack and pinion system or hydraulic or pneumatic lift system for raising and lowering the raised platform to match the height of the floor of a truck box to be cleaned, such that the bridge is substantially horizontal when deployed. However, this is optional, as most trucks have pneumatic suspension which enable adjustment of the height of the floor of the truck box. In a yet further embodiment, the platform and deployable bridge are integral or replace one another, wherein the bridge is deployable together with the roving unit sitting on the deployable bridge and movable therewith. It is envisaged that the system may include a sump for collecting dirty water exiting the truck box and the dirty water recycled to refill the water tank in order to improve water efficiency. The dirty water may go through a number of cleaning and filtering steps before being pumped into the water tank for re-use.

Claims

1. An apparatus for washing truck boxes and containers, the apparatus comprising a base unit (2) and a roving unit (3) having at least one high-pressure spray apparatus (42,43), the base unit comprising a structure (11) supporting a raised platform (10) with a deployable bridge (21) , the raised platform (10) for supporting the roving unit (3).

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the deployable bridge (21) is a drawbridge.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the platform is arranged between 500mm and 2000mm and optionally 1500mm high which may be measured from a floor on which the base unit sits when in use.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a hinge (87,88) is arranged between the deployable bridge (21) and the structure (11) or raised platform (10).

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a spray bar (44) is arranged on the deployable bridge (21) .

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base unit houses a water tank (20) and a pump (106) for pumping water from the water tank (20) to the high-pressure spray system (42,43,44).

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base unit houses a dosing pump (41) for dosing an additive into the water supplying the high-pressure spray system (42,43,44).

8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base unit houses a hydraulic supply system (23) comprising a hydraulic pump (141), a hydraulic supply line (143) , a return hydraulic line (143') and a shuttle valve (144) for selectively directing hydraulic fluid to one of a first and second hydraulic line (6,7) and selectivelydirecting return from the other of the first and second hydraulic lines .

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base unit (2) comprises a human machine interface (24) for controlling the remote unit and the high-pressure spray apparatus.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base unit (2) comprises an umbilical rack (22) .

11. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one high-pressure spray apparatus of the roving unit (3) comprises a box washing system (42) comprising a set of at least two Catherine wheel sprays.

12. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the remote unit (3) comprises a truck (25) having a chassis (31,32,33,34,35) and at least one wheel (37-37"') and a hydraulic drive motor (92) for propelling the remote unit.

13. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the remote unit (3) comprises a hydraulic distribution system (28) for distributing hydraulic fluid between a hydraulic drive motor (92) for propelling the truck (25) of the remote unit (3) and a hydraulic spinning motor (66) for spinning Catherine wheel sprays.

14. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the hydraulic distribution system further comprises a first priority control flow valve (148) in the first hydraulic line (6) and a second priority control flow valve (153) in the second hydraulic line (7), with the first priority line (74) to one side of the hydraulic drive motor (92) and the second priority line (75) to the other side of the hydraulic motor (92) , such that the drive motor (92) will propel the truck (25) forward when the first hydraulic line (6) is provided from the supply of hydraulic fluid (143) and the drive motor (92) will propel the truck (25) backwards when the second hydraulic line (7) is provided from the supply of hydraulic fluid (143).

15. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the hydraulic distribution system further comprises a spinner supply line (67) and spinner return line (68) , wherein the first priority control flow valve (148) has an inferior branch supplying a common line (150) feeding a first side (67) of said spinner motor (66) and the second priority control flow valve (153) has an inferior branch feeding the common line (150) feeding the first side (67) of the spinner motor (66) .

16. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 13 to 15, wherein said first and second priority control flow valves (148,153) of the hydraulic distribution system (28) are housed in a single distribution block (69).

17. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 16, wherein said at least two Catherine wheels are driven in synchronisation using a timing belt.

18. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the roving unit (3) further comprising a flushing spray bar (43) with nozzles or spray jet openings directed at the floor to the rear of the roving unit to the floor.

19. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the at least one high-pressure spray system further comprises an external clean down spray system, comprising a spray bar (44) arranged on the base unit.

20. A method of cleaning a truck box (101) or container, the method comprising the steps of deploying a bridge (21) from a raised platform (10) of a base unit on to a floor (100) of the truck box or container located on a chassis or trailer of a truck, a roving unit (3) traversing the bridge (21) from the raised platform (10) on to the floor (100) of the truck box (101) or container, and activating at least one high-pressure spray apparatus (42,43) to spray at least one jet of water within the truck box or container.

21. The method of Claim 20, wherein the step of deploying a bridge (21) comprises lowering a drawbridge.

22. An apparatus for washing truck boxes and containers, the apparatus comprising a base unit (2) and a roving unit (3) , the roving unit (3) comprising a water hose reel (27a) deploying a water hose and a further reel for deploying an umbilical.

23. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the umbilical comprises a first and second hydraulic hose and optionally, a multi-core low voltage electric cable.

24. An apparatus for washing truck boxes and containers, the apparatus comprising a base unit (2) and a roving unit (3), the roving unit (3) comprising a high-pressure spray system (42,43) comprising at least one Catherine wheel spray (42) and a spray bar (3).

25. An apparatus for washing truck boxes and containers, the apparatus comprising a base unit (2) and a roving unit (3) having at least two high-pressure spray apparatus (42,42), the base unit (2) comprising a platform (10) with a drawbridge (21), the platform (10) for supporting the roving unit (3), the base unit (2) comprising a hydraulic supply system (23) and the roving unit (3) comprising a hydraulic distribution system (28) supplying a hydraulic drive motor (92) for propelling the roving unit (3) and a spinning motor (66) for inducing spinning in a first of said two high pressure spray apparatus (42,43) and the base unit (2) comprising a water pump (106) and said roving unit (3) comprising a water distribution system (82) for distributing water to said at least two high-pressure spray apparatus (42,43).

26. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 25, wherein one of the high-pressure spray apparatus is a box washing spray system (42) and the other is a flushing spray system (43).s